Merton

Merton's population grew in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in housing tenure, religion and relationships.

The population reached nearly 200,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Merton increased by 6.3%, from almost 188,000 to 200,000.

The addition of just under 12,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Merton was home to, on average, 38 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Merton

Latest census data also show that the median age of Merton remained 34 years in the decade to 2011.

This urban area had a higher average age than London and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 4,700 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population over the age of 80 years decreased by about 600.

About 15% of people in Merton are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Merton by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Merton

The percentage of Merton residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.3% to 2.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 19 (5.3%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 5.8% in 2001. The percentage of Merton residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 92%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Merton at a faster rate than across England.

In Merton, the proportion of private renting increased from 15% in 2001 to 25% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Across London, the share of privately rented homes increased from 15% to 25%.

The rate of social housing in Merton remained close to 14%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 68% to 59%.

Private renting in Merton increased by 9.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Merton, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Merton

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 60% said they were Christian. An increase from 69% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Merton.

Across London, the percentage of people who described themselves as Christian fell from 64% to 53%, while across England the percentage went from 78% to 64%.

Around 22% of those who disclosed their religion in Merton said they had no religion, up from 18% in 2001. About 8.8% said they were Muslim, up from 6.3% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who described themselves as Sikh fell from 0.3% to 0.3% between the last two censuses.

In Merton, 7.6% chose not to disclose their religious affiliation. In London the percentage was 9.1% and across England the percentage was 7.7%.

The population who identified as Christian in Merton decreased by 7.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Merton by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people living alone

The percentage of households in Merton, which comprised one person, decreased from 32% to 28% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage that had an unmarried couple remained close to 8.7%, while the percentage of households in Merton which comprised a married couple (with or without children) increased from 32% to 33%.

The proportion of one-person households fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 35% in 2001 to 32% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across London

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Merton residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.1% to 3.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (86%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73% in 2001. The percentage of Merton residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Merton decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Merton, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Merton residents that were self-employed increased from 9.2% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (55%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 57% in 2001. The percentage of Merton residents that were unemployed increased from 3.3% to 4.1%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 9.0% in 2001 to 12% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment in Merton increased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Merton, London and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with children

The percentage of households in Merton with children increased from 29% to 32% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (59%) households had no children, compared with 63% in 2001. The percentage of households in Merton with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.9% to 9.4%.

The proportion of households with children increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 29% in 2001 to 31% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30% to 29%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across London

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Relationships in Merton

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership changed very little here, while the proportion increased across England.

In Merton, the proportion of single people increased from 39% in 2001 to 40% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 30% to 35%.

Across London, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 41% to 44%.

The proportion of married people in Merton remained close to 45%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.0% to 9.5%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in work hours

The percentage of employed people in Merton working less than 16 hours increased from 1.9% to 2.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in nine (11%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 13% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 2.0% in 2001 to 3.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Merton residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.4% to 1.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.9%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.7% in 2001 to 1.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Merton remained close to 1.7%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Merton by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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